Did you know? (with LOTS of FREEBIES)

Did you know that January is National Braille Literacy month?

I didn't either... until I started doing some research on Helen Keller. We are studying her in our reading series and shockingly the kids are super into it. We have done a lot of non-fiction this year, but we haven't focused on specific people for past research so I am excited to start reading biographies and autobiographies.

So, as we are learning more and more about Helen Keller it seems obvious to expose my second graders to Braille and give them a little taste of reading with Braille. I found a wonderful kid-friendly site about Braille called Braille Bug. This site includes info about Braille (Louis Braille, history and games) and also links to the Helen Keller Kids Museum Online (which has some awesome pics and descriptions of her life).

I am definitely about to print out some Braille names for all my kiddos. Here's mine:

Click the picture above to do your name!

You've more than likely seen a few other posts I've made on Pebble Go. Well, Pebble Go just happens to have a great biography section (that I will be all over during Black History Month!!) and there is a section on Helen Keller. So, I've made a guided Web Quest for my kids to do during some tech time. If you don't have time for tech (or access to it) I also made a Text Reference page on Helen Keller. My kids are tackling Text Referencing as much as possible.

You can click the pictures above to get your free copies of these activities. (If you are in Journeys, like me, I am hoping these will be helpful to you!)

During our research on Helen Keller we are building a timeline of her life and learning what makes an event in some one's life significant. Because of the significant interest in this topic we are extending our unit on biographies and autobiographies and we are going to write our own autobiographies. We are starting with a bio-poem. If you haven't heard of a bio-poem before, it is a great way to get the kids thinking about their life.

Above are the guidelines for a bio-poem. Click the picture and you can download this for your kiddos. So, we are going to start with this poem and then in our writing journals we are going to write about different things in our life. I made up some labels to help the kids organize their pre-writing in their journals. 

Each child will receive all these labels and we will work on filling out their writing journals in an organized way! You can download these by clicking the picture above (compatible with Avery 5160 label). 

I hope to post more this week about how much progress we make in this and other topics!

 Have a great week!

Secret's Out!

I didn't want to say anything...

I mean I know it is not really socially acceptable... but.... I've been listening to Christmas music for a week now! I have been keeping it under wraps, because I have been seeing tons of facebook posts that look like this:

I guess now it's okay though... ya know... Now that it's December! A new month brings a new currently. Link up with Farley here. 

So I started writing this earlier today and then got caught by the hubs.. and drug.... I mean literally drug away to do my least favorite holiday duty... tree trimming! 

I mean, I love spending time with my family, but I absolutely hate dislike (really really dislike) putting the tree up and decorating. I guess since I mostly have to do it by myself while the kids are messing around and the hubs watches... it becomes a chore. 

But, now it's over-- thank goodness! I don't, however, dislike decorating at school, but still haven't done that either! Oh well!

In other news, I am sure by now you have heard about the Cyber Monday (and Tuesday) sale TPT has going tomorrow! 

Click the pic to go straight to my TPT store!

You might be wondering what you could get.... and here are a few of my favorite things (just happens to be on the radio right now...hehe)

In the mood for math....

   

Do you teach with Treasures?

 

How about Journeys?

 








Of course there is LOTS more out there in my store and in the other fab sellers on TPT. I need to go get my wishlist ready!! :) Happy shopping... Only 20 days til Christmas break!!

a TREAT for you

I love this time of year...

Time to order Christmas cards and teacher gifts! I always try to put extra thought into the teacher gifts I give (mainly because I work with these people!). I am super lucky that my son can go to school where I work, but the pressure is on!

I love to get personalized gifts and treat.com is the perfect place to get them! At first glance you might be thinking that treat.com is a card site. And... you would be correct..but...

Treat.com is also full of personalized gifts! Check out the selection they have of personalized stationary, coffee mugs, and i-phone cases. I actually got my son's first grade teacher some personalized stationary last year and she loved it!

Here are some of my fave adorable stationary choices:

Of course, they do still have some awesome personalized one-to-one cards that can be holiday or anytime cards. Last Christmas I ordered personalized cards for my whole team and they were super impressed :) 

Here are some of my personal faves this year:

Something fun and new to treat this year is many of the cards on the site have a digital option. This means your can send the cards through email for a little less $$.

To learn more about all the goodies Treat offers, join @ResourcefulMom for a #TreatCheer Twitter party tomorrow afternoon. RSVP for the party here.

So, here is the best part...

You can win a set of personalized stationary and a personalized mug just by checking out their website!     All you have to do is visit the link in the Rafflecopter below and comment as to what your favorite holiday card is!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Unfortunately this giveaway is only open to U.S. residents. Ends Friday, 11/22. I must disclose that Treat is also treating me with a set of personalized stationary and a mug too for posting this post. http://bit.ly/1cSRxaf